Fitting system for golf equipment using camera image for measurement of individual and related methods

ABSTRACT

In one example, a system for fitting golf equipment for an individual can be configured to be used with an electronic device comprising a fitting processor module and a camera. The system can comprise an image analysis module configured to receive image data of at least a portion of the individual and one or more physical indicia proximate to the individual, where the image data can be captured by the camera. The image analysis module can also be configured to recognize one or more reference features of the individual from the image data, and to calculate one or more fitting dimensions between the one or more reference features in the image data. Other examples, devices, and related methods are also disclosed herein.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/414,369filed on Jan. 24, 2017, which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 14/460,162, filed on Aug. 14, 2014, now U.S. Pat.No. 9,573,032 issued on Feb. 21, 2017, which is a continuation of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 13/465,304, filed on May 7, 2012, now U.S.Pat. No. 8,926,454 issued on Jan. 6, 2015, the contents of which arefully incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to sports equipment, andrelates, more particularly, to golf fitting systems and related methods.

BACKGROUND

Although conceptually simple, golf is a game that requires much practiceto develop a player's skill in terms of mental and muscle coordinationfor repeatability and consistency of shots. Proper golf equipment can beimportant for better and consistent performance, and determining whatgolf equipment is best suited for an individual often involves trial anderror that can be costly and time consuming. To ensure an individual isplaying with appropriate equipment, the individual may be custom fittedfor golf equipment via an individualized fitting process. Such fittingprocess may require measuring several characteristic features ordimensions of the individual, and determining proper equipmenttherefrom. Determining such characteristic features or dimensions in arepeatable and precise manner can often be difficult, especially whereseveral fitters are involved. Considering the above, furtherdevelopments can be made to positively impact golf fitting systems andrelated methods.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present disclosure will be better understood from a reading of thefollowing detailed description of examples of embodiments, taken inconjunction with the accompanying figures in the drawings.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of a system for fitting golf equipmentfor an individual.

FIG. 2 illustrates a sample schematic of an electronic device suitablefor using with the system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 illustrates a view of an on-screen interface presenting imagedata gathered from the system of FIG. 1 for determining one or morereference features for fitting the individual.

FIG. 4 illustrates a top view of the system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 illustrates a view of an on-screen interface presenting imagedata gathered from the system of FIG. 1 for determining one or more handreference features for fitting the individual.

FIG. 6 illustrates a view of an on-screen interface presenting imagedata gathered from the system of FIG. 1 for determining one or morereference features for fitting the individual with respect to an addressstance.

FIG. 7 illustrates a flowchart for a method of fitting an individualwith golf equipment via a golf fitting system similar to the system ofFIG. 1.

For simplicity and clarity of illustration, the drawing figuresillustrate the general manner of construction, and descriptions anddetails of well-known features and techniques may be omitted to avoidunnecessarily obscuring the present disclosure. Additionally, elementsin the drawing figures are not necessarily drawn to scale. For example,the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggeratedrelative to other elements to help improve understanding of embodimentsof the present disclosure. The same reference numerals in differentfigures denote the same elements.

The terms “first,” “second,” “third,” “fourth,” and the like in thedescription and in the claims, if any, are used for distinguishingbetween similar elements and not necessarily for describing a particularsequential or chronological order. It is to be understood that the termsso used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances such thatthe embodiments described herein are, for example, capable of operationin sequences other than those illustrated or otherwise described herein.Furthermore, the terms “include,” and “have,” and any variationsthereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that aprocess, method, system, article, device, or apparatus that comprises alist of elements is not necessarily limited to those elements, but mayinclude other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process,method, system, article, device, or apparatus.

The terms “left,” “right,” “front,” “back,” “top,” “bottom,” “over,”“under,” and the like in the description and in the claims, if any, areused for descriptive purposes and not necessarily for describingpermanent relative positions. It is to be understood that the terms soused are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances such that theembodiments described herein are, for example, capable of operation inother orientations than those illustrated or otherwise described herein.

The terms “couple,” “coupled,” “couples,” “coupling,” and the likeshould be broadly understood and refer to connecting two or moreelements or signals, electrically, mechanically or otherwise. Two ormore electrical elements may be electrically coupled, but notmechanically or otherwise coupled; two or more mechanical elements maybe mechanically coupled, but not electrically or otherwise coupled; twoor more electrical elements may be mechanically coupled, but notelectrically or otherwise coupled. Coupling (whether mechanical,electrical, or otherwise) may be for any length of time, e.g., permanentor semi-permanent or only for an instant.

“Electrical coupling” and the like should be broadly understood andinclude coupling involving any electrical signal, whether a powersignal, a data signal, and/or other types or combinations of electricalsignals. “Mechanical coupling” and the like should be broadly understoodand include mechanical coupling of all types. The absence of the word“removably,” “removable,” and the like near the word “coupled,” and thelike does not mean that the coupling, etc. in question is or is notremovable.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In one embodiment, a system for fitting golf equipment for an individualcan be configured to be used with an electronic device comprising afitting processor module and a camera. The system can comprise an imageanalysis module configured to receive image data of at least a portionof the individual and one or more physical indicia proximate to theindividual, the image data captured by the camera, recognize one or morereference features of the individual from the image data, and calculateone or more fitting dimensions between the one or more referencefeatures in the image data. The image analysis module can be configuredto be executed by the fitting processor module.

In one embodiment, a method for fitting golf equipment for an individualcan comprise providing an image analysis module configured for receivingimage data of at least a portion of the individual and one or morephysical indicia proximate to the individual, recognizing one or morereference features of the individual from the image data, andcalculating one or more fitting dimensions between the one or morereference features in the image data. The image data can be receivedfrom an image capture module of a golf-fitting electronic devicecomprising a camera. The image analysis module can be configured to beexecuted by an electronic processor.

In one embodiment, an image analyzer for fitting golf equipment for anindividual can be configured to be used with an electronic devicecomprising a fitting processor module and a camera. The image analyzercan comprise an image processing module configured to receive image dataof at least a portion of the individual and one or more physical indiciaproximate to the individual, the image data captured by the camera, andrecognize one or more reference features of the individual from theimage data. The image analyzer can also comprise a fitting moduleconfigured to calculate one or more fitting dimensions between the oneor more reference features in the image data.

In another embodiment, a system for fitting golf equipment for anindividual can be configured to be used with an electronic devicecomprising a fitting processor module and a camera. The system cancomprise an image analysis module configured to receive image data of atleast a portion of the individual and one or more physical indicia,pursuant to which the single picture is aligned. The image analysismodule can be further configured to recognize one or more referencefeatures of the individual from the image data of the single picture andcalculate one or more fitting dimensions of the individual between theone or more reference features in the single picture. The portion of theindividual in the single picture comprises at least a hand of theindividual. The image analysis module can be configured to be executedby the fitting processor module.

In one embodiment, a method for fitting golf equipment for an individualcan comprise providing an image analysis module configured for receivingimage data of a single picture captured by a camera and depicting atleast a hand of the individual and one or more physical indicia,pursuant to which the single picture is aligned. The single picture isreceived from an image capture module of a handheld golf-fittingelectronic device comprising a fitting processor module and the camera.The method can further comprise recognizing one or more referencefeatures of the individual from the single picture and calculating oneor more fitting dimensions from the single picture captured by thecamera. The image analysis module can be configured to be executed by anelectronic processor module.

In another embodiment, an image analyzer for fitting golf equipment foran individual can be configured to be used with an electronic devicecomprising a fitting processor module and a camera. The image analyzercan comprise an image processing module configured to receive image dataof at least a hand of the individual and one or more physical indicia,pursuant to which the single picture is aligned, and recognize one ormore reference features of the individual from the image data of thesingle picture. The image analyzer can also comprise a fitting moduleconfigured to calculate one or more fitting dimensions of the hand ofthe individual between the one or more reference features in the singlepicture.

Other examples and embodiments are further disclosed herein. Suchexamples and embodiments may be found in the figures, in the claims,and/or in the present description.

Turning to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a view of system 1000 forfitting golf equipment for individual 1900. System 1000 is configured tobe used with electronic device 1100 comprising camera 1150 coupled tofitting processor module 1160, where camera 1150 is configured tocapture image data 1700 of individual 1900 for processing by fittingprocessor module 1160.

In some examples, camera 1150 can comprise an optical lens, and imagedata 1700 can comprise image optical data received via the optical lensof camera 1150. In the same or other examples, camera 1150 can comprisea depth sensor, and image data 1700 can comprise image depth datareceived via the depth sensor of camera 1150. In such examples, thedepth sensor can comprise an infrared laser projector combined with amonochrome CMOS sensor, similar to the depth sensor of the Kinect®device from Microsoft Corporation, of Redmond, Wash.

FIG. 2 illustrates a sample schematic of electronic device 1100.Electronic device 1100 can be, for example, a mobile device or apersonal computer. In some examples, electronic device 1100 can includeelectrical devices of many types and designs such as cellular phones,personal digital assistants (PDA)s, tablet computers, “smartphones”and/or other devices incorporating one or more of the above (e.g., mediaplayers, telephones, audio-visual media players, devices incorporatingmedia players, telephones, and/or audio-visual devices, and/or handheldgame consoles). For example, electronic device 1100 can be an electricaldevice manufactured by Apple Computer, Inc. of Cupertino, Calif. (e.g.,an iPod® MP3 player, an iPod Touch® device, an iPad® device, and/or aniPhone® device). There can also be examples where electronic device 1100can be a portable computer, such as a notebook, laptop, or netbookcomputer. In other examples, electronic device 1100 can be anon-portable computer, such as a desktop computer. In such examples,camera 1150 can be part of the non-portable computer, or can be coupledto the non-portable computer via a wired or wireless mechanism.

System 1000 comprises image analysis module 2110, which is executable byfitting processor module 1160 and physically contained in memory module2120 as part of electronic device 1100 in the present example. Fittingprocessor module 1160 of electronic device 1100 is coupled to memorymodule 2120 and camera module 1150. In some examples, memory module 2120can comprise one or more types of memory, such as a hard disk and/or asolid state storage device, like flash memory. Memory module 2120 canalso comprise an operating system module configured to run on fittingprocessor module 1160 to operate and/or manage different functions ofelectronic device 1100. Electronic device 1100 also comprises userinterface module 2140 coupled to display module 2145 in the presentexample, where user interface module 2140 can be configured to generatedisplay signals for a graphical user interface displayed on displaymodule 2145, and/or to process user input signals received via thegraphical user interface from user 1800 (FIG. 1). Display module 2145can comprise a touch screen display of electronic device 1100 in someembodiments. Nevertheless, although display module 2145 and camera 1150are shown as internal to electronic device 1100 in the present example,there can be other examples where display module 2145 and/or camera 1150can be distinct from electronic device 1100.

Image analysis module 2110 is configured to receive image data 1700 fromcamera module 1150, where image data 1700 comprises image informationabout individual 1900 and one or more physical indicia such as physicalindicia 1210 proximate to individual 1900 (FIG. 1). Image data 1700 maybe received directly by image analysis module 2110, or stored at memorymodule 2122 for eventual access by image analysis module 2110. Imageanalysis module 2110 can be configured to recognize one or morereference features 1950 of individual 1900 from image data 1700 (FIG.1). In some examples, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the one or morereference features 1950 can comprise one or more of head top 1951, eye1952, shoulder 1953, elbow 1954, wrist 1955, hip 1956, knee 1957, ankle1958, or foot 1959 of individual 1900. In the present example, physicalindicia 1210 is located tangent to ground plane 1220, and image analysismodule 2110 (FIG. 2) can be configured to determine a position ororientation of horizontal axis 1221 of ground plane 1220 based on suchtangency. In some examples, image analysis module 2110 (FIG. 2) can beconfigured to recognize a location of foot 1959 of individual 1900, anddetermine a position or orientation of horizontal axis 1221 of groundplane 1220 therefrom.

Based on reference features 1950, image analysis module 2110 (FIG. 2)can calculate one or more fitting dimensions 1710 of individual 1900between the one or more of reference features 1950. As an example, theone or more fitting dimensions 1710 can comprise one or more ofhead-top-to-floor distance 1711, eye-to-floor distance 1712,shoulder-to-floor distance 1713, elbow-to-floor distance 1714,wrist-to-floor distance 1715, hip-to-floor distance 1716, knee-to-floordistance 1717, ankle-to-floor distance 1718, or foot-to-floor distance1719 with respect to individual 1900. By calculating the one or morefitting dimensions 1710 from image data 1700, image analysis module 2110can transform image data 1700 into one or more fitting attributes 1960of individual 1900 based on the one or more fitting dimensions 1710. Forexample, fitting attributes 1960 can comprise height 1961, based onhead-top-to-floor distance 1711. Fitting attributes 1960 can alsocomprise shaft length attribute 1965 based on wrist-to-floor distance1715 of individual 1900.

In the present example, user interface module 2140 (FIG. 2) isexecutable by fitting processor module 1160 (FIGS. 1-2) and isconfigured to generate on-screen interface 3100, which can be displayedat display module 2145 as seen in FIG. 3. On-screen interface 3100comprises an illustration of image data 1700 depicting individual 1900and the one or more reference features 1950 relative to physical indiciasuch as physical indicium 1210.

In the present example, user interface module 2140 (FIG. 2) isconfigured to receive from user 1800 (FIG. 1) one or more referencefeature markers 3710 entered at on-screen interface 3100 (FIG. 3)designating a location of at least a portion of the one or morereference features 1950 as illustrated in on-screen interface 3100. Forexample, user 1800 (FIG. 1) may touch or click at or proximate to wrist1955 at on-screen interface 3100 (FIG. 3), and user interface module2140 (FIG. 2) may receive such input from user 1800 as designating alocation for wrist reference feature marker 3710 for wrist 1955. Therecan also be examples where image analysis module 2110 (FIG. 2) can beconfigured to recognize at least a portion of the one or more referencefeatures 1950 (FIGS. 1, 3) automatically by detecting such one or morereference features 1950 from image data 1700 without the need for user1800 to manually enter into on-screen interface 3100 the one or morereference feature markers 3710 (FIG. 3). In the same or other examples,user interface module 2140 can be configured such that user 1800 canstill correct or adjust the location of the one or more referencefeatures 1950 identified by image analysis module 2110 by entering oneor more reference features 3710 at on-screen interface 3100.

In the same or other examples, user interface module 2140 (FIG. 2) mayamend or insert into image data 1700 (FIG. 2) information about the oneor more reference feature markers 3710 once entered by user 1800(FIG. 1) or once recognized by image analysis module 2110 (FIG. 2). Userinterface module 2140 (FIG. 2) may also cause on-screen interface 3100(FIG. 3) to illustrate the one or more reference feature markers 3710,such as shown in FIG. 3. Reference feature markers 3710 may comprise,for example, head top reference marker 3711 eye reference marker 3712,shoulder reference marker 3713, elbow reference marker 3714, wristreference marker 3715, hip reference marker 3716, knee reference marker3717, ankle reference marker 3718, foot reference marker 3719, as seenin FIG. 3, and/or others.

Image analysis module 2110 (FIG. 2) is configured to analyze image data1700 with respect to individual 1900 and relative to physical indiciasuch as physical indicium 1210. Physical indicium 1210 can be locatedproximate to individual 1900 (FIGS. 1, 3), and may be used as areference feature to align camera module 1150 (FIG. 1) and/or electronicdevice 1100 for properly capturing image data 1700. In the presentembodiment, on-screen interface 3100 is configured to present on-screenindicium 3210, which can be aligned by user 1800 (FIG. 1) with physicalindicium 1210 by moving camera 1150 (FIG. 1) or electronic device 1100accordingly. At least one of a target distance 1230 (FIG. 1) or a targetorientation 4240 (FIG. 4) of on-screen interface 3100, relative tophysical indicium 3210, relative to horizontal axis 1221, and/orrelative to vertical axis 1222, may be set by aligning on-screenindicium 3210 with physical indicium 1210 at on-screen interface 3100.In the present example, target orientation 4240 is substantiallyperpendicular to horizontal axis 1221 and/or physical indicium 1210.

Physical indicium 1210 (FIGS. 1, 3, 4) comprises surface 1211 having ageometrical physical shape with one or more physical dimensions, such asdiameter 1212 and perimeter 1213, where diameter 1212 is configured tobe substantially parallel to horizontal axis 1221 and ground plane 1220,and is also configured to be located over ground plane 1220. On-screenindicium 3210 (FIG. 3) comprises a geometrical on-screen shape with oneor more on-screen dimensions corresponding to the one or more physicaldimensions of physical indicium 1210. Target distance 1230 can thus beestablished between on-screen interface 3100 and physical indicium 1210when the one or more on-screen dimensions of on-screen indicium 3210 arealigned at on-screen interface 3100 with the one or more physicaldimensions of surface 1211 of physical indicium 1210. In the presentexample, the geometrical physical shape of physical indicium 1210comprises a circle, and the geometrical on-screen shape of on-screenindicium 3210 also comprises a circle. Circular perimeter 3213 ofon-screen indicium 3210 is configured to match circular perimeter 1213of physical indicium 1210 when target distance 1230 and targetorientation 4240 are established between camera 1150 and physicalindicium 1210. For example, if camera 1150 were too close to physicalindicium 1210, on-screen perimeter 3213 would appear larger at on-screeninterface 3100 than physical perimeter 1213, and vice/versa. As anotherexample, if camera 1150 were not properly oriented relative to physicalindicium 1210, physical perimeter 1213 of physical indicium 1210 mayappear somewhat oval-shaped or not fully circular at on-screen interface3100, such that circular perimeter 3213 of on-screen indicium 3210 maynot match physical perimeter 1213 of physical indicium 1210 until targetorientation 4240 (FIG. 4) is achieved.

There can be examples where user interface module 2140 (FIG. 2) and/orimage analysis module 2110 (FIG. 2) may recognize a misalignment ofcamera 1150 relative to physical indicium 1210, and may cause userinterface 3100 to display one or more on-screen guidance to user 1800(FIG. 1) for properly aligning camera 1150 accordingly with respect totarget distance 1230 and/or target orientation 4240. In the same orother examples, user interface module 2140 (FIG. 2) and/or imageanalysis module 2110 (FIG. 2) may be configured to present levelingon-screen indicia 3250 (FIG. 3) at on-screen interface 3100, whereleveling on-screen indicia 3250 can be configured to guide a verticalalignment of on-screen interface 3100 with gravitational axis 3251 (FIG.3) based on feedback from a gravitational sensor of position sensormodule 2170 (FIG. 2).

FIG. 5 illustrates a view of on-screen interface 3100 configured fordetermining a glove size of hand 5955 of individual 1900 (FIG. 1). Inthe present example, camera 1150 (FIG. 1) is configured to capture imagedata 5700 comprising an image of hand 5955 of individual 1900 (FIG. 1).Hand 5955 is positioned proximate to physical indicium 5210 in thepresent implementation, where physical indicium can be similar tophysical indicium 1210 as described above with respect to FIGS. 1, 3,and 4. On-screen indicium 3210 of on-screen interface 3100 is configuredin the present example to match physical indicium 5210 when camera 1150is properly aligned, with respect to distance and orientation, relativeto physical indicium 5210. Alternatively, camera 1150 may be alignedrelative to a grid located proximate hand 5955, such as grid physicalindicium 5250. In the present example, on-screen interface 3100 isconfigured to present on-screen indicium 5260, which can be aligned byuser 1800 (FIG. 1) with one or more cells of grid physical indicium 5250to establish a target distance and/or target orientation of camera 1150relative to grid physical indicium 5250. In other examples, the cells ofgrid physical indicium may comprise dimensions input into or otherwiseknown by image analyzer module 2110, from which image analyzer modulemay calculate a scale of image data 5700 via extrapolation based on thenumber of pixels representing each cell of grid physical indicium 5250.

In the present example of FIG. 5, image data 5700 comprises referencefeatures 5950, similar to reference features 1950 (FIG. 1), but withrespect to hand 5955. Reference features 5950 comprise middle fingertip5951 and middle finger base crease 5953 of the middle finger of hand5955, and wrist crease 5952 of the wrist of hand 5955. In some examples,as described above with respect to reference feature markers 3710 (FIG.3), reference feature markers 5751, 5753, and 5752 may be respectivelyentered for the locations of middle fingertip 5951, middle finger basecrease 5953, and wrist crease 5952 by user 1800 into on-screen interface3100, and/or such locations may be automatically recognized by imageanalyzer module 2110 (FIG. 2). Once camera 1150 (FIG. 1) is alignedrelative to physical indicium 5210 and/or grid physical indicium 5250 asdescribed above, based on the locations of middle fingertip 5951 andwrist crease 5952, image analysis module 2110 (FIG. 2) can calculatehandsize fitting dimension 5711 corresponding to a distance betweenmiddle fingertip 5951 and wrist crease 5952. Similarly, image analysismodule 2110 can calculate handgrip fitting dimension 5717 correspondingto the distance between middle fingertip 5951 and middle finger basecrease 5953. Based on its calculation of handsize fitting dimension5711, image analysis module 2110 can then calculate glove size 5965 asone of fitting attributes 1960 for individual 1900 (FIG. 1). Similarly,based on its calculation of handgrip fitting dimension 5717, imageanalysis module 2110 can calculate golf club grip size 5967 as one offitting attributes 1960 for individual 1900 (FIG. 1).

FIG. 6 illustrates a view of on-screen interface 3100 configured fordetermining a static lie angle 6710 for individual 1900. In the presentexample, camera 1150 is configured to capture image data 6700 comprisingan image of individual 1900 in an address stance with golf club 6800. Insome examples, camera 1150 can be aligned to capture image data 6700 asdescribed above with respect to image data 1700 (FIGS. 1-4) and/or inrelation to physical indicium 1210 and on-screen indicium 3210. Theposition or orientation of horizontal axis 1221 can also be determinedby image analysis module 2110, as described above with respect to FIGS.1-4. Image analysis module is also configured in the present example todetermine a position or orientation of horizontal axis 6221, which canbe located relative to horizontal axis 1221. For example, afterdetermining a location of horizontal axis 1221, image analysis module2110 can recognize a location of horizontal axis 6221 to be parallel tohorizontal axis 1221 and tangent to either foot 1959 of individual 1900or club head 6810 of golf club 6800. There can also be examples wherehorizontal axis 6221 may be entered manually by user 1800 (FIG. 1) intoon-screen interface 3100 for image analysis module 2110 (FIG. 2).

In the present example, image analysis module 2110 (FIG. 2) can also beconfigured to recognize shaft axis 6820 of a shaft of club head 6800held by individual 1900 at the address stance. Having recognized bothhorizontal axis 6221 and shaft axis 6820, image analysis module 2110 cancalculate a static lie angle therebetween as one of fitting attributes1960 for individual 1900. In some examples, image analysis module 2110(FIG. 2) may automatically recognize the shaft of golf club 6800 fromimage data 6700 and determine shaft axis 6820 therefrom. There can alsobe examples where the location and/or orientation of shaft axis 6820 maybe entered manually by user 1800 (FIG. 1) into on-screen interface 3100for image analysis module 2110 (FIG. 2).

Image analysis module 2110 may also be configured to recognize dorsalaxis 6620 substantially tangential to the back of individual 1900, andto calculate crouch angle 6720 between dorsal axis 6620 and verticalaxis 1222. In some examples, image analysis module 2110 mayautomatically recognize the back of individual 1900 from image data6700, and then determine dorsal axis 6620 therefrom. There can also beexamples where the location and/or orientation of dorsal axis 6620 maybe entered manually by user 1800 (FIG. 1) into on-screen interface 3100for image analysis module 2110.

Image analysis module 2110 (FIG. 2) is also configured in the presentexample to recognize eye axis 6630 through eye 1952 of individual 1900and perpendicularly intersecting horizontal axis 6221 at eye axisjunction 6631 when individual 1900 is at the address position. Imageanalysis module can also be configured to recognize golf ball 6850,about which individual 1900 stands in the address stance. In someexamples, image analysis module 2110 (FIG. 2) may automaticallyrecognize golf ball 6850 and/or eye 1952 of individual 1900 from imagedata 6700, and then determine eye axis 6630 through eye 1952 to beperpendicular to horizontal axis 6221. There can also be examples wherethe location of golf ball 6850, eye 1952 and/or dorsal axis 6630 may beentered manually by user 1800 (FIG. 1) into on-screen interface 3100 forimage analysis module 2110.

Having recognized golf ball 6850 and eye axis 6630, image analysismodule 2110 (FIG. 2) can calculate stance style 6730 for the addressstance of individual 1900, where stance style 6730 can be one of fittingattributes 1960 for individual 1900. In some embodiments, stance style6730 may comprise (a) a ball-aligned stance style where eye axis 6630intersects golf ball 6850 or where eye axis junction 6631 is within aball-aligned area 6632 of, for example, approximately 3 centimeters (cm)around golf ball 6850, (b) a ball-outside stance style where eye axisjunction 6631 is located outside the ball-aligned area 6632 and betweengolf ball 6850 and the feet of individual 1900, and (c) a ball-insidestance style where eye axis junction 6631 is located outside theball-aligned area 6632 and where golf ball 6850 is located between eyeaxis junction 6631 and the feet of individual 1900. In someimplementations, a shaft length of the shaft of golf club 6800 may berecommended or adjusted based on the stance style 6730 calculated byimage analysis module 2110.

Moving on, FIG. 7 illustrates a flowchart for a method 7000 for fittingan individual with golf equipment via a golf fitting system. In someembodiments, the golf fitting system of method 7000 can be similar tosystem 1000 as described above with respect to FIGS. 1-5.

Method 7000 comprises block 7100 for receiving, at an image analysismodule of an electronic device, image data of an individual and one ormore physical indicia proximate to the individual. In some examples, theimage analysis module can be similar to one or more portions ofelectronic device 1100, such as image analysis module 2110 and/or userinterface module 2145 (FIG. 2). The image data received can be similarto image data 1700 (FIGS. 1, 3-4), image data 5700 (FIG. 5), and/orimage data 6700 (FIG. 6). The physical indicium can be similar tophysical indicium 1200 (FIGS. 1, 3-4, 6), physical indicium 5210 (FIG.5), grid physical indicium 5250 (FIG. 5), and/or other physical indiciumsuitable for aligning the electronic device or a camera coupled theretowith respect to the individual.

Block 7200 of method 7000 comprises 7200 recognizing one or morereference features of the individual from the image data. In someexamples, the one or more reference features can be one or more ofreference features 1950 (FIGS. 1, 3, 6), such as head top 1951, eye1952, shoulder 1953, elbow 1954, wrist 1955, hip 1956, knee 1957, ankle1958, or foot 1959, and/or features such as horizontal axis 1221,vertical axis 1222, dorsal axis 6620, or eye axis 6630. The one or morereference features can also be one or more of reference features 5950(FIG. 5), such as middle fingertip 5951, middle finger base crease 5953,or wrist crease 5952. In some examples, a portion of the one or morereference features can be at golf equipment, such as golf club 6800,and/or golf ball 6850 (FIG. 6). There can be examples where the imageanalysis module of block 7100 can be configured to automaticallyrecognize at least a portion of the one or more reference features fromthe image data without user input. There can also be embodiments wherethe user may manually enter or otherwise identify at least a portion ofthe one or more reference features for the image analysis module. As anexample, block 7200 can be performed by the image analysis module and/ormanually.

Block 7300 of method 7000 comprises calculating, with the image analysismodule, one or more fitting dimensions between the one or more referencefeatures in the image data. In some examples, the one or more referencefeatures can be one or more of fitting dimensions 1710 (FIG. 1),handgrip fitting dimension 5717 (FIG. 5), handsize fitting dimension5711 (FIG. 5),

Block 7400 of method 7000 comprises generating, with the image analysismodule, one or more fitting attributes of the individual based on theone or more fitting dimensions. In some examples, the one or morefitting attributes can be one or more of a proposed shaft length for agolf club of the individual; glove size 5965 (FIG. 5), golf club gripsize 5967 (FIG. 5), static lie angle 6710 (FIG. 6), crouch angle 6720(FIG. 6), and/or stance style 6730 (FIG. 6).

In some examples, one or more of the different blocks of method 7000 canbe combined into a single block or performed simultaneously, and/or thesequence of such blocks can be changed. For example, blocks 7300 and7400 may be combined into a single block in some examples. In the sameor other examples, some of the blocks of method 7000 can be subdividedinto several sub-blocks. For example, block 7200 can comprise asub-block for receiving or interpreting input from a user designatingone or more of the reference features of the individual, and anothersub-block for recognizing with the image analysis module other referencefeatures based on the reference features entered by the user. There canalso be examples where method 7000 can comprise further or differentblocks. As an example, method 7000 can further comprise a block prior toblock 7100 for taking a picture with a camera to gather the image dataand sending the image data to the image analysis module. In addition,there may be examples where method 7000 can comprise only part of thesteps described above. For instance, block 7400 can be optional in someexamples. Other variations can be implemented for method 7000 withoutdeparting from the scope of the present disclosure.

In some examples, one or more portions of method 7000 of FIG. 7 may beimplemented as machine-accessible instructions utilizing any of manydifferent programming codes stored on any combination ofmachine-accessible media embodied in a mobile application (e.g., an app)and/or an online application for various wired and/or wirelesscommunication devices such as handheld computers, smartphones, portablemedia players, tablet computers, etc. In addition or alternatively, themachine-accessible instructions may be embodied in a volatile ornon-volatile memory or other mass storage device (e.g., a floppy disk, aCD, and a DVD). For example, the machine-accessible instructions may beembodied in a machine-accessible medium such as a programmable gatearray, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), an erasableprogrammable read only memory (EPROM), a read only memory (ROM), arandom access memory (RAM), a flash memory, a magnetic media, an opticalmedia, and/or any other suitable type of medium. The systems, apparatus,methods, and articles of manufacture described herein are not limited inthis regard.

Although the golf fitting systems and related methods herein have beendescribed with reference to specific embodiments, various changes may bemade without departing from the spirit or scope of the presentdisclosure. For example, although physical indicium 1210 is described ascircular, there can be other embodiments comprising physical indiciaand/or on-screen indicia with other geometrical shapes or quantities. Inone example, such physical indicia and/or on-screen indicia may comprisea crosshair shape. In another example, such physical indicia and/oron-screen indicia may comprise several physical and on-screen dotsconfigured to be respectively aligned with each other. In the same orother examples, image analysis module 2110 may comprise one or moresub-modules, such as image processing module 2111 and/or fitting module2112 (FIG. 2). In some examples, image processing module 2111 of imageanalysis module 2110 can be configured to process image data receivedfrom camera 1150 and/or user input received via user interface module2140. In the same or other examples, fitting module 2112 of imageanalysis module 2110 can be configured to generate one or more of thefitting dimensions or fitting attributes described above based on theprocessing of image data by image processing module 2111. Additionalexamples of such changes have been given in the foregoing description.

Other permutations of the different embodiments having one or more ofthe features of the various figures are likewise contemplated. As anexample, system 1000 can be configured so that individual 1900 canself-fit for golf equipment, such that individual 1900 and user 1800 cancomprise the same person if desired and/or such that individual 1900 cancarry out at least a portion of the functions or interactions describedherein with respect to user 1800. In such examples, electronic device1100 and/or a camera such as camera 1150 may be held or aimed by acameraman, or by a support mechanism such as a tripod, to capture imagedata such as image data 1700 (FIGS. 1, 3, 4), image data 5700 (FIG. 5),and/or image data 6700 (FIG. 6). Image analysis module 2110 (FIG. 2) canbe configured to retain such image data for subsequent access thereof byindividual 1900, acting as user 1800, via a user interface module suchas user interface module 2140 (FIG. 2) and/or via an on-screen interfacesuch as on-screen interface 3100 (FIGS. 3, 5, 6). Accordingly, with theretained image data, the individual being fit may self-fit for the golfequipment if desired.

Furthermore, although electronic device 1100, camera 1150, fittingprocessor module 1160, image analysis module 2110, user interface module2140 are shown in FIGS. 1-2 as self-contained in a single unit, therecan be other embodiments where one or more of such elements may bedistributed amongst more than one unit. As an example, in someembodiments, camera module 1150 may be part of a camera unit separateand/or remote from electronic device 1100, but where image analysismodule 2120 can still be configured to receive image data such as imagedata 1700 captured by the camera module of the separate or remote cameraunit.

The specification and drawings herein are intended to be illustrative ofthe scope of the disclosure and are not intended to be limiting. It isintended that the scope of this application shall be limited only to theextent required by the appended claims.

The golf fitting systems and related methods discussed herein may beimplemented in a variety of embodiments, and the foregoing discussion ofcertain of these embodiments does not necessarily represent a completedescription of all possible embodiments. Rather, the detaileddescription of the drawings, and the drawings themselves, disclose atleast one preferred embodiment, and may disclose alternativeembodiments.

All elements claimed in any particular claim are essential to theembodiment claimed in that particular claim. Consequently, replacementof one or more claimed elements constitutes reconstruction and notrepair. Additionally, benefits, other advantages, and solutions toproblems have been described with regard to specific embodiments. Thebenefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element or elementsthat may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or becomemore pronounced, however, are not to be construed as critical, required,or essential features or elements of any or all of the claims, unlesssuch benefits, advantages, solutions, or elements are expressly statedin such claims.

As the rules to golf may change from time to time (e.g., new regulationsmay be adopted or old rules may be eliminated or modified by golfstandard organizations and/or governing bodies such as the United StatesGolf Association (USGA), the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews(R&A), etc.), golf equipment related to the apparatus, methods, andarticles of manufacture described herein may be conforming ornon-conforming to the rules of golf at any particular time. Accordingly,golf equipment related to the apparatus, methods, and articles ofmanufacture described herein may be advertised, offered for sale, and/orsold as conforming or non-conforming golf equipment. The apparatus,methods, and articles of manufacture described herein are not limited inthis regard.

While the above examples may be described in connection with aputter-type golf club, the apparatus, methods, and articles ofmanufacture described herein may be applicable to other types of golfclub such as a fairway wood-type golf club, a hybrid-type golf club, aniron-type golf club, a wedge-type golf club, or a driver-type golf club.Alternatively, the apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacturedescribed herein may be applicable other type of sports equipment suchas a hockey stick, a tennis racket, a fishing pole, a ski pole, etc.

Moreover, embodiments and limitations disclosed herein are not dedicatedto the public under the doctrine of dedication if the embodiments and/orlimitations: (1) are not expressly claimed in the claims; and (2) are orare potentially equivalents of express elements and/or limitations inthe claims under the doctrine of equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for fitting golf equipment for anindividual and configured to be used with an electronic devicecomprising a fitting processor module and a camera; the systemcomprising: an image analysis module configured to: receive image dataof a single picture captured by the camera and depicting: at least aportion of the individual at a first posture; and one or more physicalindicia, pursuant to which the single picture is aligned, being distinctfrom a fitting golf club; recognize one or more reference features ofthe individual from the image data of the single picture; and calculateone or more fitting dimensions of the individual between the one or morereference features in the single picture; wherein: the portion of theindividual in the single picture comprises at least a back of theindividual when the individual is at an address position; and the imageanalysis module is executable by the fitting processor module andconfigured to calculate the one or more fitting dimensions from thesingle picture captured by the camera.
 2. The system of claim 1,wherein: the image analysis module is configured to recognize at least aportion of the one or more reference features from the image datawithout user input marking the portion of the one or more referencefeatures.
 3. The system of claim 1, further comprising: a user interfacemodule coupled to the image analysis module and configured to generatean on-screen interface for a user of the system; wherein: the on-screeninterface comprises an illustration of the image data depicting theportion of the individual and the one or more reference featuresrelative to the one or more physical indicia; and the user interfacemodule is configured to be executed by the fitting processor module. 4.The system of claim 3, wherein: the user interface module is configuredto: receive one or more reference feature markers entered at theon-screen interface by the user to designate a location of at least aportion of the one or more reference features.
 5. The system of claim 3,wherein: the on-screen interface is configured to illustrate one or morereference feature markers marking the one or more reference features,where such one or more reference feature markers are non-physical butrendered at the on-screen interface by the user interface module.
 6. Thesystem of claim 3, wherein: the one or more physical indicia comprise afirst physical indicium; the on-screen interface is configured topresent: a first on-screen indicium configured to be aligned with thefirst physical indicium to establish for the image data at least one ofa target distance or a target orientation of the on-screen interfacerelative to the first physical indicium; and the first on-screenindicium is non-physical but rendered at the on-screen interface by theuser interface module.
 7. The system of claim 6, wherein: the firstphysical indicium comprises: a physical geometric shape with one or morephysical dimensions; the first on-screen indicium comprises: anon-screen geometric shape with one or more on-screen dimensionscorresponding to the one or more physical dimensions of the physicalgeometric shape; and the target distance is established between theon-screen interface and the first physical indicium when the one or moreon-screen dimensions of the on-screen geometric shape are aligned withthe one or more physical dimensions of the physical geometric shape atthe on-screen interface.
 8. The system of claim 7, wherein: the one ormore physical dimensions of the physical geometric shape comprise aphysical perimeter of the physical geometric shape; the one or moreon-screen dimensions of the on-screen geometric shape comprise anon-screen perimeter of the on-screen geometric shape; the on-screenperimeter of the on-screen geometric shape is configured to match thephysical perimeter of the physical geometric shape when the targetdistance and the target orientation are established between the cameraand the first physical indicium.
 9. The system of claim 7, wherein: theuser interface module is coupled to a gravitational sensor configured tosense a gravitational axis; and the on-screen interface is configured topresent: a leveling on-screen indicia configured to guide a verticalalignment of the on-screen interface with a gravitational axis based onfeedback from a gravitational sensor module coupled to the fittingprocessor module.
 10. The system of claim 7, wherein: the image analysismodule is configured to: recognize an alignment mismatch between thefirst on-screen indicium and the first physical indicium, the alignmentmismatch comprising at least one of: a distance misalignment comprisinga distance other than the target distance between the on-screeninterface and the first physical indicium; or an orientationmisalignment comprising an orientation other than the target orientationbetween the on-screen interface and the first physical indicium; and theuser interface module is configured to: present one or more on-screenguidance at the user interface module to correct the alignment mismatch.11. The system of claim 3, wherein: the one or more reference featurescomprise: a dorsal axis tangential to the back of the individual; theone or more fitting dimensions comprise: a crouch angle fittingdimension corresponding to an angle between the dorsal axis and thevertical axis; and the image analysis module is configured to calculatea shaft length fitting attribute of the individual based on the crouchangle fitting dimension.
 12. The system of claim 3, wherein: theelectronic device, the camera, the fitting processor module, the imageanalysis module, and the user interface module are self-contained in asingle unit comprising at least one of: a smartphone; or a tabletcomputer; the one or more reference features comprise at least dorsalaxis tangential to the back of the individual; and the image analysismodule is configured to calculate one or more fitting attributes basedon the one or more fitting dimensions, the one or more fittingattributes comprising at least a shaft length fitting attribute of theindividual.
 13. The system of claim 1, wherein: the image analysismodule is configured to: generate one or more fitting attributes of theindividual based on the one or more fitting dimensions.
 14. A method forfitting golf equipment for an individual, the method comprising:providing an image analysis module configured for: receiving image dataof a single picture captured by a camera and depicting: at least a backof the individual; and one or more physical indicia, pursuant to whichthe single picture is aligned, being distinct from a fitting golf club;wherein the single picture is received from an image capture module of ahandheld golf-fitting electronic device comprising a fitting processormodule and the camera; recognizing one or more reference features of theindividual from the image data of the single picture; and calculatingone or more fitting dimensions of the individual between the one or morereference features in the single picture; wherein: the image analysismodule is executable by the fitting processor module and configured tocalculate the one or more fitting dimensions from the single picturecaptured by the camera.
 15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:providing a user interface module coupled to the image analysis moduleand configured to generate an on-screen-interface for a user of thesystem; wherein: the on-screen interface comprises an illustration ofthe image data depicting the portion of the back of the individual andthe one or more reference features relative to the one or more physicalindicia; and the image analysis module is configured to be executed bythe fitting processor module.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein:providing the user interface module comprises: configuring the on-screeninterface to illustrate one or more reference feature markers markingthe one or more reference features, the one or more reference featuremarkers being at least one of: automatically recognized from the imagedata by the image analysis module; or entered at the on-screen interfaceby the user; configuring the on-screen interface to present: a firston-screen indicium configured to be aligned with a first physicalindicium of the one or more physical indicia to establish for the imagedata at least one of a target distance or a target orientation of theon-screen interface relative to the first physical indicium; andproviding the image analysis module comprises: configuring the imageanalysis module for at least calculating a shaft length fittingattribute of the individual.
 17. The method of claim 15, wherein: thehandheld golf-fitting electronic device, the camera, the fittingprocessor module, the image analysis module, and the user interfacemodule are self-contained in a single unit comprising at least one of: asmartphone; or a tablet computer.
 18. An image analyzer for fitting golfequipment for an individual and configured to be used with an electronicdevice comprising a fitting processor module and a camera, the imageanalyzer comprising: an image processing module configured to: receiveimage data of a single picture captured by the camera and depicting: atleast a back of the individual; and one or more physical indicia,pursuant to which the single picture is aligned, being distinct from afitting golf club; and recognize one or more reference features of theindividual from the image data of the single picture; and a fittingmodule configured to: calculate one or more fitting dimensions of theindividual between the one or more reference features in the singlepicture; wherein: the fitting module is configured to calculate the oneor more fitting dimensions from the single picture captured by thecamera.
 19. The image analyzer of claim 18, further comprising: a userinterface module configured to generate an on-screen interface for auser of the image analyzer; wherein: the image processing module and thefitting module are configured to be self-contained with the electronicdevice, the camera, the image analyzer, and the fitting processor moduleas a single unit comprising at least one of a smartphone or a tabletcomputer; the image analyzer is executable by the fitting processormodule of the electronic device; the one or more physical indiciacomprise a first physical indicium; the on-screen interface comprises:an illustration of the image data depicting the at least the hand of theindividual and the one or more reference features relative to the one ormore physical indicia; and a first on-screen indicium configured to bealigned with the first physical indicium to establish for the image dataat least one of a target distance or a target orientation of theon-screen interface relative to at least one of: the first physicalindicium; a horizontal axis of a ground plane upon which the individualstands; or a vertical axis substantially perpendicular to the groundplane; the image processing module is configured to recognize from theimage data at least a back of the individual; the one or more fittingdimensions comprise a crouch angle fitting dimension corresponding to anangle between a vertical axis perpendicular to a ground plane and adorsal axis tangential to the back of the individual; and the fittingmodule is configured to calculate one or more fitting attributes of theindividual based on the one or more fitting dimensions, the one or morefitting attributes comprising at least a shaft length fitting attributeof the individual.